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Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program

Home / Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program Application Precheck

ELIGIBILITY PRECHECK


IMPORTANT: The full online application will be available soon. This precheck can be taken to determine if renters meet the initial eligibility criteria of the program, it is not an application for assistance. If a household meets all of the eligibility criteria below, they will be invited to sign-up to be notified when the application period opens.

NOTICE: The completion of the eligibility precheck does not guarantee that assistance will be provided or halt eviction proceedings or utility disconnections. Individuals are strongly encouraged to notify their landlord and/or utility provider of their plans to apply for assistance, as application review time periods will vary.

1. Do you live in the City of Des Moines?

Yes

No

Please note that Polk County and the City of Des Moines will be administering the program locally. Therefore, Iowans residing in either Polk County or the City of Des Moines are ineligible to apply for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program. More information on the program that may assist Polk County and City of Des Moines residents is available here or by calling 515.777.7644.

2. Do you live in Polk County?

Yes

No

Please note that Polk County and the City of Des Moines will be administering the program locally. Therefore, Iowans residing in either Polk County or the City of Des Moines are ineligible to apply for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program. More information on the program that may assist Polk County and City of Des Moines residents is available here or by calling 515.777.7644.

3. Please select your household’s housing situation:

Tenant leasing a rental unit

Manufactured homeowner renting a lot

Homeowner

Purchasing a home on contract

5. One or more adult members of my household has:

Supporting documentation will be required.

(Select all that apply)

Qualified for unemployment benefits since March 13, 2020, whether or not you are still receiving unemployment benefit payments as of today

Experienced a reduction in income due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Incurred significant costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic

None of the above

6. My household is at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability due to one of the factors below:

Supporting documentation will be required, such as past due rent or utility notices.

(Select all that apply)

Has received past-due rent or utility notice(s)

Has received a rental eviction notice

Being severely rent burdened defined as paying more than 50% of our household income on rent.

Has paid rent with credit card(s), accumulating debt in order to avoid eviction.

None of the above

7. Please select your county of primary residence:

8. Please select the number of members of your household, including yourself:

9. My household’s 2020 annual income:

Note: Supporting income documentation of every adult household member will be required in the full application.

My household’s current monthly income:

Note: Supporting income documentation of every adult household member will be required in the full application.

10. The rental property is my primary residence

Yes

No

11. My name is on the rental lease

Yes

No

12. I’m responsible for paying a portion or the full amount of the monthly rent

Yes

No

14. I am the only person in my household that has applied or will apply for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program.

Yes

No

15. I have access to and will provide proof of identification.

View acceptable forms of identification

Yes

No

16. I have access to and will provide household income documentation

This must include all sources of income that are received by any adult member of your household.

Documentation may include any one of the following, listed in order of best documentation to acceptable, but not preferred.

  • Copy of Form 1040 as filed with the IRS for the household for CY 2020 (first two pages only)
  • Copy of Form W2 as filed with the IRS for the household for CY 2020.
  • Interest earned statement from your financial institution for CY 2020.
  • Documentation of receipt of income-qualifying assistance, such as that from programs including SNAP, TANF, SSI, WIC, Head Start, EITC and Medicaid.
  • Pay stubs
  • Unemployment compensation statement
  • Other form of accepted documentation listed here

Yes

No

17. I have access to and will provide documentation of loss of income, significant costs incurred or other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic, as applicable.

  • Loss of income documentation such as approval for unemployment benefits, pay stubs or a letter from your employer showing a decrease in income.
  • Significant costs incurred documentation, such as copies of medical, childcare, transportation, or other significant expenses your household has incurred.
  • Other documentation demonstrating financial hardship.

Yes

No

18. I have access to and will provide documentation demonstrating my household’s risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, as applicable.

  • Written past due rent notice
  • Written past due utility notice
  • 3-day notice of nonpayment of rent
  • 30-day notice for termination of a periodic tenancy
  • Notice of an eviction lawsuit or eviction court hearing date for nonpayment of rent
  • Being severely rent burdened defined as paying more than 50% of our household income on rent
  • Has paid rent with credit card(s), accumulating debt in order to avoid eviction.

Yes

No

16. I understand that applicants who submit or attempt to submit a fraudulent application for assistance may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Yes

No

17. I understand that an application submission does not guarantee that assistance will be provided or halt eviction proceedings or utility disconnections.

Yes

No

Let's first find out if you're eligible for the application.

Based on your answers, you may be eligible for assistance through the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program.

Sign up to receive information about the new Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance program including when the application is available. If you choose to list a phone number below it must be a mobile number capable of text messaging.

Note: The eligibility pre-check submission is not a guarantee of financial assistance.

Based on your response, your household is ineligible for the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program.